Cisco, NXP Place Bet on Connected-Car Company

Most cars may one day be smart enough to drive themselves. Before then, some companies expect them to communicate safety information among themselves, with Cisco Systems and NXP Semiconductors placing a new bet on that direction.

The two companies have each agreed to put an undisclosed amount of money into an Australian company called Cohda Wireless. Executives from Cisco and NXP say it is particularly well positioned to benefit from such “car-to-car” communications.

Paul Gray, Cohda’s chief executive, describes some scenarios where the technology could help avoid collisions.

Imagine, he says, driving down a road and approaching an intersection while a car is approaching from a side road that has a stop sign. “You have the right of way but the other car is moving too fast–it’s not going to stop in time,” Gray says.—-